Operating mechanism for sectional garage doors



n p QM April 30, 1957 Filed June 10, 195:5

c. R. EVANS ETAL ,790,635

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES R 5 VA N5 WILL/AM G. NcELRoY INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y pr l 30, 1957 R. EVANS Em. 2,790,635

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS Filed June 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o I CHARLES REVANS 10 H 15 WILL/AM G/"ICELROY INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 30, 1957 c. R. EVANS ETAL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS Filed June 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .T.I.TIIT II.I IZZY "111:1"...............,.".....

w p CR 5 VP uni: P n MW CHARLES REVANj WILLIAM G. McELRoY IN VEN TOR. BY W AT TORN E Y United States Patent OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS Charles R. Evans and William G. McElroy, Decatur, Ill.

Application June 10, 1953', Serial No. 360,766

Claims. (Cl. 268-59) This invention relates to operating mechanism for sectional garage doors.

The invention is more particularly concerned with mechanism for operating doors for garages and the like which are mounted for movement from a closed vertical position to an open overhead horizontal position, and vice versa.

A primary object of the invention is to provide door operating mechanism of the general character above referred to which is relatively simple in construction, readily adaptable for use with existing doors and which is highly eliicient and dependable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a top 'plan view as observed from the ceiling beams and showing the door in a closed position in full lines and in an open position in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view as observed in the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan View of that portion of the mechanism on which the motor is supported together with the motor driven sprocket gears and portions of the perforated tracks.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view as observed in the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the right hand end of the structure as shown in Fig. 3 with the perforated tracks in transverse section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view showing one of the sprocket gears in elevation and the co-operating perforated track in vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 7 is a view at right a gles to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l but wherein the perforated tracks are mounted upon existing roller tracks.

Fig. 9 is a vertical "sectional view as observed in the plane of line 9-9 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the combinedroller and perforated track arrangement of Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof, D designates a sectional door comprising a plurality of sections S pivotally connected at adjacent edges thereof as at P for relative movement of the sections' 'in the movement of the door between vertical closed and horizontal open 'jp't'rsit'ions. The door is provided with rollers R at each of its opposite side edges for travel in a channel track T including a vertical section V and an overhead horizontal section H united with the vertical section through a curved section C.

The roller engaging tracks are disposed at opposite sides of the door opening which is defined by the frame F.

The door operating mechanism forming the subject matter of the invention comprises a frame 10 including a pair of longitudinal laterally spaced parallel angle bars 11 to corresponding ends of which is rigidly secured a hinge 12 adapted for attachment to the door D adjacent 2,790,635 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 its vertical center and adjacent the upper edge thereof as shown in Fig. 2.

A motor supporting plate 13 is fixed to the bars 11 intermediate their ends and on which is suitably secured an electric motor 14.

A channel iron 15 is disposed transversely of the angle bars 11 intermediate their opposite ends and the motor 14 and is rigidly secured to the lower faces of the bars.

A gear reduction housing 16 is supported on the channel iron 15 and in which is rotatably journalled the intermediate portion of a drive shaft 17 which extends transversely of the frame 10. Secured to shaft 17 within the housing 16 is a Worm gear 18 in mesh with a Worm 19 on the motor shaft 20 which extends into the housing 16 at right angles to the drive shaft 17.

At this point it is to be noted that the door end of frame 10 is upwardly curved as indicated at 10'.

The drive shaft 17 is provided at each end thereof with a sprocket gear 21 whose teeth 22 are engageable within openings 23 in a longitudinally extending perforated track 24.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the perforated tracks 24 are disposed at opposite sides of the frame 10 and parallel therewith and such tracks are supported from ceiling beams B as by means of suitable anchor members 25.

The motor 14 is of the reversible type and in the installation of the mechanism suitable stop and reversing switches are provided, the switches per se forming no part of the invention.

In operation; with the door D closed as in Fig. 2, upon energization of the motor 14, the frame 10 will be caused to travel from the full line to the dotted line position with capacity to pivot about the axis of the drive shaft 17 and the door will be moved to the open position indicated in dotted lines.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the door in its open position is disposed above the top of the door opening whereby impact therewith is substantially fully avoided.

In a complete installation as in Figs. 1 to 7, the perforated tracks 24 are disposed closely adjacent opposite sides of the frame 10. Where the door roller engageable tracks T are already mounted, the perforated tracks 24 may be mounted on the roller tracks through intervening spacing elements 26, as in Figs. 8 to 10. With this arrangement, however, longer drive shafts 17 are required and such longer drive shafts preferably have their opposite ends rotatably supported in bearings 27 supported by suitable lateral extensions 28 of the frame 10.

The improved mechanism as above described is relatively simple in construction, highly efficient in operation, and offers minimum encroachment upon the normal space within the building having a door provided with the mechanism.

Having set forth our invention in accordance with certain specific structural embodiments thereof, what we claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is 1. Operating mechanism for a sectional door having rollers at opposite edges thereof for travel in roller tracks at opposite sides of the door; comprising a pair of fixed perforated tracks mounted above the door and at opposite sides of the central vertical plane thereof, an elongated frame for disposal between said grip tracks and having hinge means on one end thereof for connection with the door, a shaft rotatably supported by said frame transversely thereof, track engaging gears on the opposite ends of said shaft, and a motor supported by said frame and operatively connected to said shaft, whereby upon operation of the motor, the frame and motor mounted thereon are moved longitudinally of the perforated tracks for opening and closing the door.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel angle bars, a gear housing supported on said bars and in which the intermediate portion of said shaft is journalled, a worm gear supported by saidshaft within the housing, and the armature shaft of said motor extending into said housing and being provided with a worm in driving engagement with said worm gear.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said angle bars are upwardly curved at their hinge ends and said hinge means being connected to the extremities of 10 said curved ends.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said perforated tracks comprise angle bars having longitudinally spaced perforations therein, and wherein said engaging gears comprise annular members having circumferentially spaced teeth engageable within said perforations.

a 4 5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said perforated tracks are adapted for support on and above the upper horizontal reaches of the roller tracks, and bearing members for opposite ends of said shaft supported by said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,485 Beeman et al. Dec. 19, 1933 1,981,026 Blodgett Nov. 20, 1934 2,021,866 Masteller Nov. 19, 1935 2,137,813 Schramm Nov, 22, 1938 2,533,116 Jenkins Dec. 5, 1950 2,555,953 Brosius June 5, 1951 2,628,090 Verdier Feb. 10, 1953 

